2012 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Sorento most often report engine problems: stalling or seizing while driving, knocking sounds, and in some cases engine-compartment fires, frequently at higher mileage. Airbag warning lights, headlight wiring that melts or fails, and excessive oil consumption also come up repeatedly in the sampled complaints.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalling, knocking and seizure

   • 304 complaints (35%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (249 state mileage)
   • 27 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 25 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at highway or in-town speeds, sometimes with a check-engine or oil light and sometimes with no warning at all, often accompanied by knocking or rattling. Several owners say a dealer or mechanic diagnosed a seized engine, worn rod bearings or a failed camshaft and recommended replacement. Some say routine oil changes had been done and that the manufacturer or warranty company declined assistance. Mostly reported between roughly 70,000 and 175,000 miles, with many filings above 90,000 miles.

   Recall 17V2240002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing regular oil changes and whether the knock-sensor detection software was installed; have a pre-purchase inspection listen for bottom-end knock and check for stored engine codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and the check engine light just started to flash, and the car just died on me. I costed off to the emergency lane and was towed to my garage. I tried to start the car and loud banging and rattling started, it sounds like a crank shaft is being thrown round.”

   NHTSA complaint #11398122, filed 2021-02, 97,065 miles

   “On 1/28/2020 at 8 pm during a snow storm, I had been driving north on hwy 41 and had entered the city of marinette and was driving approximately 20 miles per hour. I made a right turn onto a city street and suddenly with no warning the engine just stopped. No check engine light no nothing. I managed to coast over to the side of the road and attempted without success to restart the vehicle. I contacted Kia and was told they would not consider assisting me with any repairs unless the vehicle was inspected by a dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11396787, filed 2021-02, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine compartment fire

   • 174 complaints (20%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (110 state mileage)
   • 74 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,600 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe smoke or flames from under the hood, sometimes while driving and sometimes while the vehicle was parked and turned off, occasionally after noticing a burning or gasoline smell. Some vehicles were reported as total losses, and a few owners say they had an earlier engine replacement or prior oil and fuel leaks. Complaints note that the manufacturer was contacted after the fire but that the vehicle had already been inspected or destroyed. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low mileage up to about 150,000 miles, in varied weather including cold and snow.

   Recall 20V750000Recall 23V652000Recall 18V907000

   What to check: Check whether open recalls (engine and brake-related fire campaigns) have been completed for the VIN, and have the engine bay inspected for fuel or oil leaks before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and suddenly heard a knocking noise under the hood and then all of the lights came on and it broke down and I had to pull over on the side of the road then it started smoking and then it caught fire. This all happened within 20 minutes on 12/10/2020. It was in cobb county ga off of ew connector and in between fontaine rd and floyd rd.”

   NHTSA complaint #11384057, filed 2020-12, 138,693 miles

   “The car engine caught fire while I was driving. Another driver notified me so I could pull over. The engine fire destroyed the car. I notified Kia 1 month later, but the car had already been inspected/destroyed by usaa. Kia refused accountability (even though Kia was fined by the govt for cars of this make/model with this issue).”

   NHTSA complaint #11408344, filed 2021-04, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight failure and melted wiring

   • 55 complaints (6%)
   • median 100,500 mi at 7.0 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe a low beam or headlight going out and staying out after bulb replacement, with inspection showing a melted connector, socket or wiring harness inside the headlight housing. Some owners had the assembly replaced only to see the same failure on the other side or a repeat on the same side. A few report headlights flickering or cutting out at night before failing entirely. Typically reported between about 68,000 and 152,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect both headlight connectors and housings for browning, melting or loose wiring, and test low and high beams in the dark before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Went to check my headlight bulb as my headlight stopped working again after just replacing the bulb a few weeks ago. What I found is that the connector to the bulb was completely melted”

   NHTSA complaint #11378133, filed 2020-12, 152,000 miles

   “When driving on a highway, the tachometer drops to zero and the power decreases, but the engine doesn't stop running. Then it smells like something is burning, and I pull off the road, turn it off, and start it again, then it goes back to normal. It has been doing this for a few months already. Also, I have had this car for almost 4 years and have replaced the headlights, tail lights, and blinkers numerous times. I'm at the point that I'm afraid it's going to burn up. Btw, the engine temp light remains normal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11354438, filed 2020-09, 120,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption

   • 139 complaints (16%)
   • median 101,770 mi at 7.1 yrs old (100 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,050 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners report the oil level dropping sharply between changes, with the dipstick reading dry and no oil light coming on, and no visible leaks found by mechanics. Some describe adding a quart every few hundred miles and a burning oil smell in the cabin. Complaints also mention that dealers resealed covers or replaced gaskets without resolving consumption. Usually reported from about 90,000 miles upward, often on vehicles with otherwise regular maintenance.

   Recall 17V2240003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level on a cold engine and ask how often oil is added between changes; a service bulletin describes an oil consumption procedure dealers can perform.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2012 Kia Sorento. I had issues with a recall when the dealer used a probe to look for metal shavings in my motor. Car started burning oil. After 4 months of arguing with the dealer, Kia finally replaced the motor in january 2018. Now on 3/9/2020 I am 4 hours away from home. I smell gas and then my car burst into flames. Kia has a recall on certain 2012 Kia Sorento's however my VIN is not one. If that is the case then why did mine catch fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317252, filed 2020-03, 153,000 miles

   “I had a burning oil smell coming into the cab of the car and smoke pouring out of the engine. I was driving home and noticed it when I got home from work. We took it to the Kia dealership the next day and it smelled bad, but didn't overheat. I took it in and it had multiple oil and fuel leaks. They replaced the valve cover gasket and fuel line and resealed the front cover and lower oil pan. This is very similar to another recall (recall #20v750000) they have on a different 2.4l engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395472, filed 2021-02, 124,515 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on

   • 78 complaints (9%)
   • median 93,500 mi at 6.9 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 23 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report the airbag warning light illuminating and staying on, sometimes coming and going at first. Complaints mention dealers or mechanics attributing it to the passenger occupant detection sensor mat or to the steering-wheel airbag circuit, and one owner was told the system may not deploy in a crash. Several say the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Mostly reported from around 85,000 to 132,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light goes out after the self-test on startup, and ask whether the occupant detection sensor pad or airbag warning-light bulletin work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The air bag light is on and steady. Mechanic has informed me that steering wheel air bag has a problem and none of the air bags will deploy if there is an accident. I see there are other complaints about same problem. Why have these complaints not resulted in a recall?”

   NHTSA complaint #11383553, filed 2020-12, 105,000 miles

   “The air bag warning light comes on and off. I took the vehicle to dutch miller Kia in charlotte. The service manager said I would need an ocs mat replacement on the passenger side seat. The light was discovered while vehicle was in motion.”

   NHTSA complaint #11340348, filed 2020-07, 85,000 miles

Buying note. The engine is the main thing to verify on this model year: get records of oil changes and any engine or knock-sensor work, confirm open recalls were completed for the VIN, and budget for an inspection. Airbag and headlight issues are cheaper to check but worth confirming before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.